A REAL GUIDE TO SE ASIA
The Southeast Asian dedication to family is unparalleled. The region is comprised of developing nations (besides Singapore), and many people there are below the poverty line. As such in these developing regions, the discrepancy between the rich and poor is enormous. They're honest folks though--honest with themselves. You’ll never see such financially challenged people so genuinely happy and generous in your life. The smiles sort of say it all.
Water is the lifeblood for much of the region, whether it's the ocean or the vital rivers that feed into the ocean, like the Mekong. I spent some time in a little Mekong town in Vietnam (just south of Saigon) and saw first hand how the river affects EVERYTHING people do there, from transportation to daily chores to source of food to more personal activities.
Vietnam is an amazingly disorganized, "keep your guard up" kind of place, yet my time there was one of the best experiences of my life. It's got huge cities, beaches, highlands, and even desert (which I only know because of a postcard I found in Saigon).
The food is sensational (French influence) and it's home to the greatest bowl of soup in the universe. Also, I know that Vietnam has devalued their currency several times in the last year or two, making foreign money go an even longer way there. So instead of some 90 cents, that beautiful pictured bowl of life might cost a mere 80 - 85 cents.
Other countries depend greatly on the surrounding seas for tourism.
Indonesia has the 4th largest population in the world (behind the US), making it quite a crowded place. They depend on rice and are one of the chief rice exporters to the world. Bali is certainly the most popular island in Indonesia for international tourists (mainly from Australia, Japan, and America); however, its many islands depend on tourism to develop their country further economically. Indonesia is almost completely a Muslim country, although Bali is mostly Hindu. There have been some terrorist attacks in recent years, but it's generally considered to be a safe place.
Natural disasters are common in several of the islands, as Indonesia is prime ring of fire territory. The big three threats there are volcano eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis. They also suffer from floods during the rainy season. Indo has many rural areas, smaller towns, and secluded beaches, but also massive concrete jungles. Jakarta is the political and economic capital and one of the biggest cities on Earth. It has a bit of a reputation for being dangerous from the American perspective, although much as with any traveling, self-discovery creates a more favorable opinion.
Thailand's southern islands are more known for the beautiful beach vacations, as there are just so many options. This is where you're more apt to finding the turquoise water. It seems most travelers go to Bangkok first and sort of hub around the famous Kao San Rd. As far as "streets" go in the world, it must be among the most known. I've never seen anything like it. It must be the most multicultural area on the planet. Budget travelers from everywhere relax there, making it their Bangkok home base, while planning out (or recovering from) their Thai adventures. There are tons of guesthouses, tourism companies, Internet cafes, and too much shopping filling up the street. It is here where so often trips are made throughout Thailand as people meet random other travelers and decide to share transportation down south to the various islands for relaxation or for huge island parties, or north to Chiang Mai for more of a cultural experience (which was really awesome by the way). It's also popular to go to even less developed
Laos or
Cambodia to see the Angkor Wat from Bangkok.
These countries are so beautiful and incredible to travel through; however, they're not exactly like Houston, Texas.
They can be a bit taxing on your senses and on your psyche if you're not open-minded and patient. Often times, when local people see you look western, you are a target. You have to be careful how you bargain and where you are walking. Most locals have no bad intentions, but they're just trying to feed their families. I have been followed for 20 blocks before after taking slight interest in buying something in a shop. But it's easy to avoid problems with a smile and an open mind.
Singapore and
Malaysia are two of my favorite places on Earth. The food and the basic civilities are just captivating. Malaysia is a Muslim country, also with incredible beaches in the north and on the east coast. It also has several islands with big land masses sort of interspersed with parts of Indonesia (and Borneo, a more exclusive Muslim state). Although perhaps more closely compared with some of the other developing nations above, it's obvious to me that Malaysia strives to be more and more like Singapore in its general comfort level. As Muslim countries go, drinking is rare, which probably plays a big role in its separation from other SE Asian nations. It's not like Thailand where foreigners go for the party atmosphere. This sort of weeds out that market of people from disturbing their more peaceful society. Also, like Singapore, Malaysia is incredibly diverse; mixed with Indonesians, Indians, and Polynesians among others. It’s quite common to see women with head covering throughout Malaysia. As I said, some parts of Malaysia (including it's capital and largest city: Kuala Lumpur) are quite pleasant to a western traveler or tourist; however, some parts are quite run down and similar to that of its less developed neighbors. But I always encourage my friends to make sure they go to some of these areas, as that's where authentic culture is found. KL's version of Kao San Rd is the Chinatown area, where you'll certainly find shades of Thailand and Vietnam in the young traveler environment.
Downtown KL is modern, with the Petronas Towers headlining its skyline.
If you wake up really early, you can get lucky and go up to the skyway view between the towers (I wasn't so lucky when I was there). Fortunately, Malaysian food will cheer up anybody. I'd like to go back just for dinner tonight--coconut rice and laksa. Wow—just
too good!Singapore is the best place to eat on the planet.
The Chili Crab will change your life. That's just an incredible bonus for tourists looking for more luxurious travel. Amid such a developing region, it's as developed a place as it gets in life. The service is PERFECT in restaurants and in shops--unlike other SE Asian places. The infrastructure is so vast and pleasant and the transportation has Germany-like efficiency. The city-state is small and unbelievably diverse. It's a mix of almost all SE Asian cultures with huge Chinese and Indian influences. It's as financially significant as Hong Kong, Tokyo, London, or New York. It's really strong in the arts, has some of the best shopping in the world, great hotels, with such a tremendous cultural atmosphere.
Singapore is heavily regulated politically, and as the world is well-aware of: criminally. It's not difficult to enter for most nationalities, but policies are strict and enforced. This is perhaps what makes it so pleasant--people there are always on their best behavior.
All that aside, it's a great place for walking--so safe. Nobody hassles you to buy something (a rarity in the region). It can be quite expensive for anything, but a little research can go a long way in finding decent buys. The value area might be Little India--right in the middle of the city and yet absolutely Indian. I was told Indians and perhaps Pakistanis play a sort of immigration lottery to move to Singapore where they can make higher wages and live comfortably. The smell of the fresh ground spices and the authentic clean Indian food are intoxicating. Even just walking the streets in the neighborhood is an activity to behold. One great thing is that they speak English in Singapore--everyone. They also speak several other languages; I can speak a little Mandarin and a bit of Thai, and I was able to practice both while there. You can also take the subway (and then the monorail) right to the beach. It's a luxury tourist's paradise.
Of course there are other countries on the outskirts of SE Asia, like the
Philippines,
Micronesia, and the various luxuriously exclusive islands. Some of these areas are very popular for SCUBA divers from all over the world, as well as wealthy vacationers, and honeymooners alike.
The Philippines is a more westernized place, with strong American and Spanish influence based on colonization and war. I haven't made it to the Philippines yet, but I've met many people from there and have a couple really good friends from Manila. Also with a bit of a dangerous international perception, it's apparently a wonderful place. People also speak English quite well there, and their economy is stronger than other surrounding countries.
However generally lacking much of Southeast Asia may financially be, it more than makes up for it in cultural identity. The natural beauty in the people and the landscapes perfectly compliment the ant farm-like activity in the major cities. It’s a place where children laugh, cooks cook, and families love; a place where
the five senses are exercised until sore, leaving a visitor with
a truly unforgettable experience, followed by
inevitable withdrawals upon departure.
Don’t overlook it because not tasting it would be a grave mistake.
